maskormenacelogs | (no subject)

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(no subject)

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Jeopardy -> Heropa
WHEN: Nov. 19
WHAT: A resolution and a swear-in
WARNINGS: Please label threads

Somewhere, in a place that is and is not Jeopardy, time has passed. To some, it may have felt like mere hours; to others, days. For time doesn't truly touch this place. Only fate exists here, for imPorts to change or allow to proceed as it will.

Somewhere, the sisters look into the hearts of those with the power to decide the fate of this entire world and know their choice. A blinding light grows, forcing even the strongest to close their eyes, and as they do so, a vision of what could have happened appears in their minds. A world wreathed in flames, fire and screams echoing ceaselessly as they depart; a peaceful world, healed and whole and well—and a certainty that another world has paid a heavy price.

And then there's the sensation of three powerful forces leaving, two taking an unwilling third with them to wherever they are going. This world will be left as it is now, and its future will be whatever the people here make of it.

MEANWHILE, IN HEROPA

One week into the mysterious storm that has enveloped much of Jeopardy, citizens across the nation are losing hope. The government continues to monitor the situation at a safe distance, but cannot enter the affected part of the city, though one SEAL team did make an attempt, only to become lost in the wind for hours before emerging without ever making it through. While the storm hasn't grown, neither has it shown any sign of changing.

The heroes who bravely charged into the storm have not officially been given up for lost, but with no news coming from Jeopardy, few believe they will emerge unscathed. To honor their sacrifice (?) and offer sorrowful natives a means of coping, a candlelight vigil kicks off outside Heropa City Hall at 4:30 PM EST.

Speeches are given. Commemorative t-shirts are sold. It is at this point that a large portal of light opens up in front of the building and deposits all imPorts who entered the storm, as well as a confused but unharmed Layla and Sally Clapp. A stunned silence falls over the crowd — followed shortly by an eruption of cheers.

Organized chaos quickly reigns over the occasion. Medical personnel are quickly called in to aid any imPorts who might need it, and government officials quickly descend, one thing on their mind: what the heck happened, heroes?! ImPorts are asked to state, for the record, exactly what they experienced — which leaves a lot of room open for the more creative among them. Just what each imPorts is willing to confess to or lie about is up to them, but there are other imPorts at hand to refute or support all statements.

While imPorts are technically free to go, all are encouraged to enter the building for a debriefing with government officials. Those who care to share their story begin to paint a picture of what happened, and a flurry of transportation begins to move between City Hall and the local porter outpost, as Jeopardy will certainly require some aid now that it is fully accessible. Reports begin to filter back that while there have been some casualties and collateral damage to the city, it is far less of a disaster than the government anticipated during the storm, no doubt due to imPorts' efforts. Additionally, news from other porter cities begins to arrive; with the dissipation of the Jeopardy storm, all dimensional anomalies elsewhere have ceased.

Following the briefings, ImPorts may go home and get some rest, although they may have trouble shaking off the crowds — which are largely ecstatic that the people who apparently saved the world are in front of them.

While imPorts were occupied with the post-disaster debriefings, locals have used the time to launch an impromptu celebration of their defense of this world. Local restaurants, breweries and nanas have hustled their finest wares over, and free food and drink are flowing for the homecoming heroes. A local party & events organizing company has strung up some lights and tents in the park across the street from City Hall, lending a festive atmosphere to the area. T-shirts being sold to honor the assumed-fallen heroes have been 'edited' with permanent marker, going from 'FALLED HEROES' (there was an error in the print run, given the notice of less than a week) to 'RISEN HEROES' and are, regretfully, being given away for free.

For those who stay, an impromptu party breaks out, and the occasion quickly becomes the latest swear-in, albeit with a more casual emphasis on the actual swearing-in than usual; a card table is set up with the usual seals and documents, but it's a bit haphazard.

Along with tasty libations, local musicians start jamming on acoustic guitars in the park's gazebo, setting up some cheerful background music—or maybe you're not too tired to dance? A local physical therapy school has rolled in multiple portable massage tables, with free sessions for sore heroes!

The locals who haven't dispersed yet are also around, likely to seek autographs from the world savers, while podcasters, BlueTubers and regular nosy nellies might lean in with a recording device, asking for the real story of what happened. For imPorts who become too intoxicated or exhausted to porter home, many locals are offering couches to crash on — although the pillows they use may later show up on ePay.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[and then there's a few who would assume she's just straight crazy for being here, even if they're too polite to say it to her face. she's aware of that. she kind of wishes she was less aware of that now, since...well. after all that happened...he kept his promise, best he could. he fought at her side. they came back out alive. the things he's told her he'd do for her...he's done so.

he's more honorable than he gives himself credit for, as far as she's concerned.

with her hand guided away from her face, Lucina is hesitant to look his way. it's embarrassing, messing up as she does, bringing herself down when all this has been up until now is...nothing shy of wonderful?

except for the neck injury part.

anyway.

anyway, when she does glance back up at him, her eyes are wider in a quick scan of his features for signs of distaste or annoyance. she'd not fault him for it, but she sure doesn't want to see that sort of look.]

Guzma... I don't know how sketchy you really are...if you've honored every word you've said to me.

[...]

I think...you're better than you think you are.

[and gods help her, she's very taken by that -- more than she thinks she is.]

[The heat that's already in his face intensifies with what she says, and he quickly looks away from her—which is an utter mistake if the pained twist in his expression says anything about it. Still, it's worth suffering that than keeping his eyes locked with her when she says shit like that...

Were she Darin, he'd probably get pissed at such a claim, but coming from her it...does something else entirely. Soothes him, yet riles him at the same time. It makes his heart ache, but in a good way, strange as it is to say.]

I—look, I just don't betray my own, that's all! Don't mean I'm good or nothin'...

[God, he sounds stupid right now.]

[that expression...

it's really cute.

Lucina's own expression softens with some fondness -- and sympathy, as he twinges with pain, and she purses her mouth into a thin line to stifle any offending smile she might accidentally wear while he fusses.

i don't betray my own, he says, and it pleases her to hear him claim her again, not just in deed but in words. it helps soothe some of the fear and jealousy in her heart; she is, after all, a pretty possessive sort of girl... it's good to be possessed in turn. it helps that this comes with the added security that he survived near-doom and came back to her, as opposed to making promises and vanishing.

she reaches up, cupping his cheeks in her hands, delighted to be able to do even just that much -- to hold and admire him as her own. that effort to subdue her smile gets wasted in the end, as it's hard to avoid letting her affection and relief pour out. she is an honest sort, after all.]

Well...you're good to me. And I'm happy with that. Very happy, actually.

[When her hands cup his cheeks, he can't help but look at her. The color in his face still present, and he knows she can feel the warmth to his cheeks. He feels ridiculous, yet...happy. It's a radiating warmth through him—and not just because he feels embarrassed right now! It's something deeper, more complex, and foreign.

Hearing that he's good to her, that she's happy...that he makes her happy...

He stares at her, Rowlet-eyed and stunned, but then he tries to force a recovery. Tries to save face, because he feels almost too vulnerable, too exposed. He sports a weak grin, that's not as confident looking as he wishes it were...and he probably looks a little ridiculous grinning like that, trying to look proud of himself, while she's holding his face.]

Tch, you better be! Ain't no regular nobody who gets this sorta treatment from the hated boss himself!

Ha...

[she smirks for just a moment, tickled by the dopey grin he's wearing.]

Then I should've said 'I'm honored?' I'll remember that for next time.

[affectionately, one of her hands moves to lightly brush some of his hair off his brow before both hands slip away.

she may still be smiling, but one of her eyebrows quirks as she says:]

...So long as you see somebody about your neck.

[Honored, huh? Yeah, he can get used to that sorta praise—his expression glowing a bit more from it too!

However, when she pulls her hands away, his expression falters just a little...mainly because he was enjoying the affection, but it's fine. He won't kick up a fuss, and besides he hardly wants to make it so obvious he enjoys small touches of affection like that...because it's a little embarrassing. And maybe the brush of his wild bangs outta his face was nice too.

He shifts a little, trying to ease himself off of her (and...out of her, oops.), but then she says that last bit and he freezes. Good thing, too, because even that shifting was upsetting his poor neck.]

...You mean, like a doctor?

...Mm.

[she...forgot that he was. in still, so his moving gives her pause, even a bit after the fact, which leaves the both of them looking like some weird, naked statues for a moment.

it feels different now. without him there. it's strange. but she probably shouldn't get caught up on that and actually speak to what he's asking.]

Yes. Or a healer. Shrugging off injuries is one thing, but...when it's something as important as your neck... [her eyes wince a little. she would not enjoy the idea of accidentally causing him some form of paralysis, actually!]

[It's not something he's going to verbally complain about, but there was definitely a comfort and warmth he's lacking now that he's...pulled out. How she reacted to it tells him enough that she might be feeling a little similarly, which is a strange comfort, but whatever. Finally he settles besides her, trying to lay down comfortably, and without as much pain. The wince to his expression proving he wasn't quite successful as he rests his head on a pillow, laying on his side facing her.]

Tch...guess I could call up Arch—I'm sure he'd get a kick outta this, huh?

[Honestly, the more he thinks about it, the more he finds the whole thing pretty damn funny too.]

[well, Lucina doesn't! she turns her head toward him, eyes big and face reddening.]

I, I would rather he didn't get a kick out of the context...! [that'd be so embarrassing! Archie's like family to her; for him to find out she'd done something that...extreme?

no way. too embarrassing!]

Well, he's gonna wanna know what happened, y'know?

[Which doesn't mean he has to tell him, but...]

So, what're y'wantin' me to do, then?

[her eyes wince.]

Well, I don't know... [she's not had to make up alibis since she was like 5 years old and stealing things from the pantry! think, Lucina.] You could. Um. Say it was...from a fight? You fight a lot.

I guess...

[But Guzma's not sure if he'll be able to keep up the ruse, and maybe the way glances away from her makes that a little obvious? Particularly the little upward turn the corner of his mouth has.]

[an eyelid twitches. the way he trailed off like that, with that look...that was vaguely reminiscent of the way Inigo used to make half-hearted responses. Lucina's cheeks puff a little with a spark of indignation, and she turns on her side, reaching over and grasping his nose and giving it a light pinch.]

At least try to make an effort for my sake, please!

Gah!

[That catches him by surprise, and he tenses up for it as he tries to pull his head back out of her grasp on his nose...which ends with him hissing and cringing in pain. Pain that seems to...radiate into his shoulders now. Shit, maybe sleeping on this isn't a good idea.

Good thing Guzma doesn't usually give a shit about what is or isn't a good idea!]

Ssst... Fine, I'll try—but man...guess we really did a number on me.

[He brings his own hand up to touch at it, hissing again as he pulls his hand away. Yeah, that's tender...god, all he wants to do is lay here with Lu and sleep, not deal with this.]

Oh-! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

[her hand recoils, her expression twisted with worry and shame. goodness, she didn't mean to hurt him more...! worry only grows as she watches him try and settle, try to get a handle of his poor neck...and she just feels worse for it.]

It...it seems so... [gods. she's a menace. she has no benchmark for terrible first times, so she can only assume this is one of the worst.

she sits up, frowning down at him, at the spot of his neck he's still trying to assess.]

...I can get you some ice. Would that help?

S'cool...

[He doesn't think this is all that terrible, really! Feels bad that she feels so bad about it, because it's really fine. But that's probably because Guzma's not great at taking care of himself or...caring for himself in this way at all.

To her question, like an idiot, he nods, and there's immediate regret. With obvious strain to his voice, his eyes squeezing shut:]

Y-yeah...that should help.

Alright. Just...no more excessive movements, okay? Try, at least. I'll be right back.

[she climbs out of bed and to her feet, wavering a bit. whoa. her legs...after all that...

she huffs, exasperated with herself. get a grip, Lucina. the man's in pain! with her face fixed in a scowl, she marches out of the room, slowing to a near-dead stop just a few steps out of there when she realizes she's just...stomping around without her clothes on.

which is fine? honestly? and why is she worrying about this? go get the ice.]

Here...

[she returns with a small sandwich bag of ice wrapped in a towel, sitting on the edge of the bed and holding it out for him to take.]

I put your clothes in the dryer as well...once they're done, why don't we get someone to see to that? Make sure it'll heal up efficiently.

[He almost nodded again to her order of no more movements, just barely catching himself enough to just give her a thumbs up as he tries to focus on staying still. Damn, he's been injured a lot, but never quite...his neck. This fucking blows—but he doesn't blame her, and he's also not mad about it really.

If anything, it should be a mark of pride, and it kind of is. How many dudes can say in all honesty they ate their girl out so good she might have broken their neck with her thighs? Not many!!

But man, he'd have watched her walk off in the nude if he could, but instead he's just left waiting there uselessly. Once she does return and hands him that makeshift ice pack, he takes it and places it on his neck. Gingerly...carefully...]

...I dunno, I think I'll be fine for tonight.

[He says, after continuously making himself suffer mere moments ago by barely moving at all. Idiot.]

The ice'll probably do the trick.

Maybe, but...but even the barest of movements is causing you pain, isn't it? That's not a good sign.

[she frowns, watching him try to settle with the ice, hesitant to reach over and aid him, lest she trigger another spasm of pain. biting her lip, she considers what to do, what would be right and reasonable.]

...If you're not improved by the time the clothes are done, let's go get you looked at. Okay? Until then, just...try and relax.

I can deal with pain fine.

[Guzma, this isn't about how tough you are...]

But if you're so worried...fine. [He's very hesitant about going to see anyone, and he's not sure if they can even get a hold of Archie right now. That party might still be going on? He might be drunk off his ass—maybe he's with Niko...so, maybe going to the hospital would be the smartest option right now, even if he doesn't want to.

With a scowl, he closes his eyes and just tries to do as she says: relax. But why does he have to look so pissy about it??]

...Thank you.

[does he have to look so pissy about it? far from Lucina to know, but it sure does hurt to see him so uncomfortable, when mere minutes ago he was...well. things were distinctly better overall.

she lets out a soft sigh, watching him for a beat before she moves to lay down facing him. maybe she ought to be doing something else. picking up her discarded clothes, for one thing. instead, prompted by a shiver, she sits up, fishing around for the quilt crumpled on the floor and yanks it up, doing a bit of fussing to get it unfolded. she pulls it over Guzma and herself before settling back down.

this really is a surreal situation. in the quiet that follows, Lucina thinks on their lovemaking, her face glowing pink anew as she does so. those sounds he made...her name in that voice of his...she tucks her chin under the quilt as she thinks on it.

her life back home didn't give her much time to worry about romance, and even here...once she knew about the threat of Atropos, her focus had been on training, on fighting. what moments she did let herself pine and yearn for love and affection were things she did so with the understanding that it just...wasn't for her. at least, not yet.

but they stopped the fates -- actual fates! -- and freed this world from the shackle of a dreadful end. it's what had her so emotional at the time they were freed from the storm. she finally got to see a world saved, to have the chance of a future secured.

Guzma had told her it was fine to be selfish. that, near the end of all things, they deserved some bit of happiness. it always seems to come back to deserving with them; he'd asked what one had to do to deserve her, she'd wondered if she even deserved a chance.

it makes sense why she waited so long...but she's glad she finally let herself go enough to see this through.

...she just wishes it didn't also wind up with causing him such aggravating pains.]

Yeah, yeah.

[It's a little dismissive, but it's because he wants to downplay this whole thing. He doesn't like her worrying like this, and he's mad that he's in pain in a way he can't just cover it up. The last thing he wanted was for the evening to be ruined, and here it is!! If he was thinking, he should have just...activated his carapace or something, done anything that could have stopped this from happening, but he didn't, and this is where they are now...

The discontented look on his face probably looks like it's from the pain he's dealing with, but really it's at himself. He should have foreseen the possibility of something like this happening, and should have prevented it—not even for his own safety, but so that she wouldn't have to feel bad about hurting him. He didn't give a shit, honestly, and he's not sure why she's so worried about it.

After all, hadn't they just faced the damn apocalypse? That was way more dangerous than a little neck strain, or whatever this is! That thought brings him back to that, though. That in such adversity, they had stuck together through it (well, as much as they could, considering a certain bug of his separated them at one point...) and came out on top despite all odds against them.

It's a thought that warms him...but so too does the quilt when he feels it put over him, and Lucina's own warmth adds to it. After a moment, he peeks at her, letting his gaze linger on her features, appreciating all the little details of her face...his heart thumping a little hard as he feels that throb of affection for her.

Damn, how did he get so attached so quickly? He honestly shouldn't be surprised, not when he fell for Lusamine so quickly too. However, Guzma's a little blind to that aspect of himself.]

...Hey.

[When he speaks, it's soft and less aggravated than before.]

This ain't your fault. We had a good time—that's what matters.

[by the time he speaks up, Lucina's stare had drifted off with her thoughts, half-lidded and hard to read. brought back to the present, though, she blinks, and her eyes sharpen in focus as they fix back on him.

she doesn't reply right away, just looking at him, turning his words over in her head. she's still incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of herself, and she may remain that way even if he absolves her again and again, but...it's good that he does anyway. otherwise, there'd really be no getting over it.

after a beat, Lucina's hand moves out from under the quilt, moving to his face, fingers gently settling on his cheek. even such a simple move as that is full of meaning, and it's why her face warms anew.]

I'm glad it's you... [she hesitates, caught by a wave of emotion in her that she has to brace for.] That you're the one with me. Like this.

[His eyebrows raise when her hand settles on his cheek, the soft gesture stirring up more of those feelings in him. Albeit, they do not compare to what those words do to him! He can feel the red heat in his cheeks from it, and he wishes he could turn away—but the cold ice pack on his neck (which is chilling him despite the damn quilt) does well to remind him to hold still.

So here he is, forced to stare at her with his cheeks ruddy with affection and fluster, like a damn love-struck fool!]

...Yeah?

[He almost sounds uncertain about that, yet there's some clear hopefulness to the tone too. She's hardly the only one with uncertainties. Even with how much he fronts that confident and egotistical persona of his, his self esteem and confidence is utter shit. Yet, he doesn't feel as fearful to let the facade slip with her.

He feels safe around her.]

Yeah.

[Big Bad Guzma's treated her well, maybe better than he realizes. more's the fear that she's begun to feel much more than he is -- the fear that she's just one more connection on the list of past experiences of his. that she's...not going to stand out from them. from that woman from his world.

it's not a great feeling, being jealous of people she's never met. it just means she has to work a little harder to be the only one he looks at.

Lucina's chin tucks a little more, so that the quilt obscures half her face, bringing her eyes more to the forefront as she peers back at him, her heart just as fluttery as his, but...not as uncertain of him as he is of himself. his actions keep proving him again and again, and she can trust those more than her cowardly thoughts.]

I hope that's...not too much for me to say.